Scientists isolated bacteria from Gulf of Mexico surface waters and used them in microcosm experiments to identify those that simultaneously degrade oil and produce mucus-like materials (exopolymeric substances or EPS).

Meiofauna are microscopic marine organisms that live between grains of sand in ocean, coastal, river, and stream sediments and provide important services such as recycling organic material in the sediment that contribute to healthy marine ecosystems.

The leaders of the GoMRI Core Area 6 synthesis effort are pleased to announce Session 22, entitled Microbial Genomics to Improve Predictive Understanding of Disturbance in the Global Ocean System, at the 2020 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference.